Avalanche Advisory
Advisory: Logan Area Mountains Issued by Toby Weed for Friday - March 23, 2018 - 7:06am
bottom line

Dangerous avalanche conditions and CONSIDERABLE danger exist in the backcountry today. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches likely. Yesterday's heavy rain saturated the snow, and large wet slab and loose wet avalanches are likely, especially in steep mid elevation terrain. Human triggered cornice falls, wind slab, and storm snow avalanches are also likely in steep upper elevation terrain.

  • Avoid and stay out from under steep slopes with saturated snow. Also avoid treacherous cornices and drifted upper elevation slopes.
  • Evaluate snow and terrain carefully, and make conservative decisions.




special announcement

We have discount lift tickets for Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Snowbasin,and Beaver Mountain. Details and order information here. All proceeds from these go towards paying for avalanche forecasting and education!

current conditions

Rain fell on the snow yesterday at all elevations, but the rain/snow line dropped to around 6000' overnight, and it ooks like several inches of heavy new snow accumulated at the Hwy 89 Summt Sheds at around 7000'. You might find decent powder riding conditions at upper elevations, but dangerous avalanche conditions also likely exist in the backcountry.

  • The Tony Grove Snotel at 8400' reports 8 inches of new snow, mostly from early this morning, with 1.2" SWE reported in the last 24 hrs. It's 31°F, and there's 75 inches of total snow, with 84% of normal SWE.
  • UDOT Hwy 89 Logan Summit reports 30°F, with 3 to 6 mph northwest winds.
  • It's 25°F on James Peak, with 5 to 10 mph wind from the north-northwest.
recent activity

No significant avalanche activity was reported recently in the Logan Zone.

Avalanche Problem 1
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Natural and triggered loose wet avalanches are likely today after yesterday's rain saturated the snow. Loose wet avalanches entraining significant piles of saturated surface snow are likely in steep terrain, especially on mid-elevation slopes facing the northern half of the compass. Backcountry snow at all but the highest elevations in the Logan Zone is saturated and prone to producing dangerous wet avalanches.

  • Roller balls, pinwheels, and natural sluffs indicate potential for wet avalanche activity.
  • Natural wet avalanches in large avalanche paths could run a good distance below the snow line.
  • Stay off and out from under steep slopes and obvious or historic avalanche paths.
Avalanche Problem 2
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Yesterday's rain added weight to the snowpack and weakened the existing structure. By yesterday afternoon, the supportable crusts at mid elevations were gone and the entire shallow snowpack was slush, lacking structure. I sunk deeply into it on skis, with every pole plant easily sinking to the ground. Dangerous wet and/or persistent deep slab avalanches are possible in steep terrain with saturated shallow snow and in areas with preexisting poor snow structure.

  • Avoid very steep rocky or treed slopes with shallow snow and poor snow structure.
Avalanche Problem 3
type aspect/elevation characteristics
LIKELIHOOD
LIKELY
UNLIKELY
SIZE
LARGE
SMALL
TREND
INCREASING DANGER
SAME
DECREASING DANGER
over the next 24 hours
description

Human triggered wind slab avalanches and cornice falls are likely in drifted terrain at upper elevations, and natural avalanches are possible. Soft storm slabs and dry sluffs entraining last night's storm snow are also possible in steep upper elevation terrain.

  • Avoid drifted snow in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, and cliff bands.
  • Stay well clear of ridge-top cornices, which often break further back than expected and can trigger avalanches on steep slopes below.
weather

The broad area of high pressure aloft across the western states will generate a warming trend across Utah through the end of the week.

  • Today: Snow before 9am, then snow showers, mainly between 9am and noon. High near 39. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
  • Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. South wind around 14 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
  • Saturday: Snow showers likely before noon, then snow likely after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 34. South southwest wind 15 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
general announcements

Episode 7 of the UAC Podcast "Mastery and False Mastery - An Interview with 'Big' Don Sharaf" is live. With a snow career spanning over 30 years, Don has enough mileage in the mountains to have learned a thing or two, including the profound value of humility when staring into the face of the dragon. Listen in on our conversation about the idea of mastery and if such a thing can exist in the avalanche world. Check it out on ​the UAC blog, ITunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The UAC Marketplace is still open. Our online marketplace still has deals on skis, packs, airbag packs, beacons, snowshoes, soft goods and much more.

The UAC has new support programs with Outdoor Research and Darn Tough. Support the UAC through your daily shopping. When you shop at Smith's, or online at Outdoor Research, REI, Backcountry.com, Darn Tough, Patagonia, NRS, Amazon, eBay a portion of your purchase will be donated to the FUAC. See our Donate Page for more details on how you can support the UAC when you shop.

Benefit the Utah Avalanche Center when you buy or sell on eBay - set the Utah Avalanche Center as a favorite non-profit in your eBay account here and click on eBay gives when you buy or sell. You can choose to have your seller fees donated to the UAC, which doesn't cost you a penny Check it out on ITunes, Stitcher, the UAC blog, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Now is a great time to practice companion rescue techniques with your backcountry partners. Here's our rescue practice video.

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Remember your information can save lives. If you see anything we should know about, please help us out by submitting snow and avalanche observations. You can also call us at 801-524-5304, email by clicking HERE, or include #utavy in your Instagram.

This advisory is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.